Any tips for washing a toddler's hair?

[Jane7]

Sorry for basic question, but I've not done it much until now (dd hasn't had much hair!) and my first attempt was disastrous as I think I got soap in her eyes. She hates lying flat in the bath so it's no good trying to tip her back so the water doesn't run in her eyes. She will only sit upright. I tried to get my partner to shield her eyes from the jug of water which I used to rinse shampoo off but it didn't really work. Is there a knack to this?

Sorry no advice just marking my place so i can steal everyones ideas

I think they all hate it tbh. Would she wear swimming goggles or is that too OTT?

My DS hates having his hair washed I find the best method is to get in bath with him, support him with my legs, grit my teeth and try to get it done as fast as possible!

that's a good idea, arghhh - hop in too. shall try that, then at least easier to distract when you're doing the nasty rinsing bit. and thanks zzzen, swimming goggles could be good, too. not sure what she'd make of wearing them.

I have 2 toddlers and I only wash their hair if it has actually got dirty with food or whatever. Otherwise they just go in the bath without a hairwash.

Oh and my best tip is that even if they have got some ick in their hair, sometimes you can just wipe it out with a babywipe and avoid the need for a full hairwash

DD2 (2.5) likes to lie down with her hands and legs out like a star and sing "twinkle twinkle little star" while I wash her hair.

A dry flannel over the eyes can help to stop the water going in. Some kids like to pour the water over their own heads.

But yeah, basically, don't do it often and when you do, be quick!

With DS, 21mths, I use a little sponge to squeeze water over his hair, mainly concentrating on the back half of his head so the water doesn't run into his face, and I use my hand to push the water back away from his face iyswim?

I use Halo 'n' Horns hair and body wash which is kind to eyes so if it does get in it shouldn't sting. I only use a tiny amount lathered onto the sponge so there is less rinsing needed. I tend to lather the back half of his head and just wipe the front with the sponge.

I rinse using the sponge squeezing the water onto his head and shielding his face with my hands. If the water gets over his face I wipe his eyes with a towel or the rinsed sponge with the water squeezed out.

DS doesn't really pay too much attention to what I'm doing as he has tonnes of bath toys and bath books etc to distract him.

How old is your DD?

We also only wash DD's hair when it is visibly dirty/manky. But I've found two things help: we've got one of these which helps keep water etc out of her face; I also like to blow bubbles with the shampoo - I always do this after I've washed her hair as a 'reward' for having her hair washed. When she was younger and we were keener, she had her hair washed loads and the bubbles thing really helped.

I found that couting aloud to 3 before we poured the water over ds helped, because he knew then it was coming. We started doing the counting for just pouring water over his body then moved onto hair. He has no problem now as he knows to take a breath when we get to '3'!
Maybe we were just lucky but its worth a try! xxx

I've poured water over DD's head and quickly wiped her face with a flannel, but I want her to relax and have fun in the bath, and she was clingy anyway.

She is nearly 19 months, and right now the easiest way to rinse her hair is breastfeed her in the bath and pour water from a jug while she's latched on.

Yes I know its a bit but she always wants to BF in the bath anyway and doesn't seem to notice. Not sure what I'll do when we stop BF tho!

You could always try this, although if I'm honest it scares me a bit.

I have seen that magic shampoo jug linked to in Mothercare as well. I haven't tried it but it might be good.

I like the twinkle star idea Getting them to rinse by putting head back in the bath seems a good way, especially for long hair.

we have a thomas the tank engine shampoo rinse cup but honestly if DS does not tip his head back it does not work that well. i found that short hair and a sponge worked well when he was young. also a quick wipe down over hair with a damp flannel every night kept it nice for longer.

Using a wide-ish toothed, not too scratchy hair brush, just brush her hair through with water. Let her do it herself if she wants to. It feels quite nice if you get the right brush - tell her it's a treat even. When she's into it, gently start pouring a bit of water on too. Then once she's accepted that put a teeny bit of shampoo on secretly (pretend you're massaging her head). Build it all this gradually, even if it takes a few times to get her used to it. Honestly if her hair's not too thick, you can get shampoo out with a brush and it's got to be better than hysterics..

I only wash DS (3yo) hair when DH is there to help. He'll hold a flannel over the eyes whilst I rinse the shampoo.

I tell DS that I'll count to ten and then the rinsing will stop. I'm not sure it helps him so much , but it calms me to concentrate on rinsing and counting. Otherwise his wailing really gets to me. Also, it forces me to hurry up.

Just do it really quickly whilst loudly proclaiming reassuring stuff.

2.11 DS screams the house down when I rinse his hair. Every bath night I explain that if he looks up the water won't go in his eyes but he just hollers and wriggles so it goes all over his head & face and I try and rinse it quickly with the minimum of screaming. I just try and block out the noise, it's not much fun TBH.

I only wash the 3yo's hair about once every 3-4 weeks. It gets wet in the bath when he splashes about. It always looks clean.

Another vote for the jug with the bendy side linked to above. My mother bought us one the other week and it works brilliantly. Until then DD had been trying to climb out of the bath with her hair full of shampoo.

Although DS is only 4.5 months, I saw this at Mothercare and snatched it up! Looks like a good idea to me! Only mine is blue!

Jug with bendy side is good - have a 4yr old DS who goes beserk at idea of hair wash. I use the jug - it fits against the head so reduces water going in eyes - and DS has a small towel to hold against his face. This combination has reduces hairwash from screaming abjabs to a resigned acceptance. Can get the jugs unline as well - jojomamanbebe have them

I just dump a jug of water over their heads, massage in the shampoo and dump another jug over the top. No faffing or pandering In fact, last night DD (3.5) was pouring jugs of water over her own head.

It probably helps that they all did baby swimming though so were used to water over their heads and faces.

Johnssons products don't sting if they get into their eyes. Try rinsing with the shower head, it might be more fun then a jug.